Category: Cosima Wagner Diaries

I feel quite indisposed and can hold myself erect only with an effort. Glorious weather, an incomparably fine summer, the heat not oppressive. R. works on his third act, but has many venations, among other things the loss of the arrangement of the and act of Götterdämmerung, which would now…

Wrote some business letters, in the afternoon to a coffee party in Frau v. Braun’s house, for me a somewhat strange experience. In the evening the singer Alexis. — When all have gone, R. looks at the picture of me in his folder, which was done at the time when…

Much worry about my wardrobe—R. thinks I do not have enough to wear! At lunch Herr Betz, who admits to me that he is happy to have come here and thus got to know R. really well personally—he has also seen how happy he is!  Rehearsal with Herr Unger, Loge…

Further study between R. and his singer. Family lunch with Herr Betz as guest. In the evening, news of the assassination attempt on Bismarck. Great consternation. One can almost see it as a sign of good fortune—how a star shines over the German Empire. I remark to R. that the…

A tenor, Herr Unger, is introduced to us today—perhaps for Loge. With R. paid a call on a very pleasant family here named Braun. Family lunch, with no guests. In the evening R. goes through the 3rd act of Siegfried. He is very worn out by it.

R. studies with Herr Betz, very enjoyable. After that lunch to celebrate the completion of the salon, with the Feustels and the Grosses; R. drinks to his guests and says that a heathen god (Wotan) has given us his blessing. Feustel then rises and speaks very handsomely about the enrichment…